Health Hit Your Stride

To calculate how many steps you take buy a pedometer, a motion-sensitive device that resembles a tiny beeper and clips onto your waistband. “It’s a great motivator,” says Dixie Thompson, the study’s lead author. Penn State University exercise physiologist Guy Le Masurier recommends the Walk4Life LS2525 ($29, available at walk4life.com) and the Yamax Digi-Walker SW-701 ($24 to $30, at thepedometercompany .com). Track the number of steps you take on an ordinary day and work up to your goal. Aim for a brisk pace of 100 to 150 steps per minute. But don’t fret if you walk slower–anything beats sitting on your couch and eating ice cream.